At Cariad Marketing, we’re always looking for ways to improve the websites we build for our clients. A couple of years ago, we made the decision to fully embrace WordPress’s Full Site Editing (FSE) and Block Editor. You may be familiar with the classic editor or third-party page builders like Elementor. However, FSE and the Block Editor offer unique advantages that make them a clear winner for modern website development, in our opinion. Here’s why we made the switch.
Benefits Over the Classic Editor and Third-Party Page Builders
One of the most significant advantages of the Block Editor is that it’s built into WordPress core. Unlike third-party page builders that could become unsupported or require costly updates, the Block Editor is maintained and updated by WordPress itself. This gives you peace of mind that your website will always stay up to date with the latest features and security improvements. While page builders can be effective, they add extra bulk, which can slow down your site and increase the potential of conflicts.
With the Block Editor, every part of your site is managed through blocks, which are light, fast and directly integrated into the WordPress platform. Blocks only load if they have been used on the page, which dramatically improves load times.
It’s Faster and More Efficient
One of the first things you’ll notice is how much faster everything is with the Block Editor and Full Site Editing. Whether we’re building a new site or making updates to an existing one, the process is quicker and more streamlined. The Block Editor allows us to see changes in real time, so we can instantly preview how a website will look on different devices.
Visitors will notice the speed improvements since lighter code means quicker load times, which is essential for both user experience and SEO.
Blocks Are a Game Changer
At the heart of Full Site Editing are blocks – modular elements that make it easy to design and structure content. Each block serves a specific purpose, such as text, images, galleries or buttons. What’s fantastic about blocks is how easy they are to use. With the drag-and-drop functionality, anyone can build and customise beautiful layouts without needing to write a single line of code.
For us as developers, this modular approach also means we can create collections of reusable blocks, called patterns, that speed up design and development. For example, if we design a custom block for your header or call-to-action, we can easily reuse it across different pages, or even other websites. This saves time and ensures consistency across all pages.
Modular and Reusable Design
One of the most exciting things about FSE is its modularity. Patterns and templates can be exported and imported across different sites, making it easier than ever to replicate successful designs. This is great for clients who have multiple websites and also great for us because it means we can reuse patterns in other projects that require similar layouts.
In practical terms, this means we can develop once and deploy many times, significantly cutting down on repetitive work. You get the benefit of faster development times and a lower cost because we’re not having to build everything from scratch each time.
Less Code and More Flexibility
Another big win is that Full Site Editing uses less code. Fewer lines of code means fewer potential errors and conflicts. For example, traditional themes require a mix of PHP, HTML, and CSS to function, but with FSE, we can rely on a much simpler structure that prioritises HTML and JSON. This makes websites easier to maintain, reduces the likelihood of issues, and allows for quicker updates.
Additionally, with less code involved, we can make changes more quickly. The simpler structure of the Block Editor also makes it easier to debug problems, ensuring your site runs smoothly without interruptions.
Easier for New Team Members to Learn
One of the overlooked benefits of FSE is that it’s easier for new developers or content editors to learn. Traditional WordPress themes required a lot of knowledge of PHP and other coding languages. With FSE, much of the work can be done using basic CSS and JSON, lowering the learning curve.
This also means that if you ever want to take control of your website content, the Block Editor makes it simple to edit or add pages. You don’t need to be a developer to make changes – everything is visual and intuitive.
Future-Proofing Your Website
Full Site Editing and the Block Editor aren’t just the present – they’re the future of WordPress. As WordPress continues to evolve, these tools will become even more central to how websites are built and managed. By embracing FSE now, we’re future-proofing your website, ensuring it stays up to date with the latest features and innovations.
Because FSE is built into WordPress core, you can rest assured that your website will remain compatible with future updates. You won’t be left scrambling to replace unsupported plugins or themes, making your website more sustainable in the long term.
Final Thoughts
At Cariad Marketing, we believe that Full Site Editing and the Block Editor offer the best solution for modern web development. They’re faster, more flexible and easier to maintain than traditional page builders or the classic editor. By moving to FSE, we’re able to create better websites more quickly, while also ensuring they’re future-proofed for years to come.
If you have any questions about how Full Site Editing can benefit your website, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you get the most out of these new tools, ensuring your site is fast, flexible and built for the future.
